Pittsburgh Post-Gazette from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • Page 32

PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2001 DAY OF TERROR SPORTS ON HOLD Afea sporting events step aside in wake of tragedy B-4 0 'Us 7E to -u i v. 5' 11 li-ii conversations around the water cooler. But the extraordinary events of yesterday dropped sports, despite all the passions it stirs, to the realm of the trivial. Even the WPIAL, which runs high school athletics in Southwestern Pennsylvania, closed its offices in Green Tree. Many schools canceled practices, and weekend schedules are up to individual schools.

"They have to get the country under control first before we can worry about any of this stuff," said Scott Heinauer, athletic director and football coach at Mars. "We don't know what's going to happen with the world tomorrow, let alone high school sports." The Mets-Pirates game was one of 15 baseball games postponed by edict yesterday. The Pirates will make an announcement today on By Robert Dvorchak Sports Writer th'e day Todd Ritchie was to' attenipt to get back to .500 against the New York Mets, and the PyatesVwduld talk about the tests onRvan Vogelsong's elbow. was supposed to give postmortem on the loss and talk about' the grand opening of Heinz Field against rival Cleveland. ''The Penguins reported to camp ifvtheif new quest for the Stanley Cup wjtti Mario Lemieux.

was in final preparations -for- the game tomorrow against Virginia and his quest to tie Bear Bryant for most all-time wins. Riverhounds were set for A-League playoff game tomorrow. Oft 3ii ordinary day, these and cher jocal events would dominate manager Kai Haaskivi, a native of Finland, said travel jitters are part of the package for any professional athlete. But the events of yesterday drove home some chilling points'. "Unfortunately, there are sick people out there who have sacLwayJS of trying to solve the world's "problems," he said.

"The worst part is in-, nocent people are paying for Mountaineer Race Track Gaming Resort canceled racing last night Also canceled was harness rating at The Meadows as welL.as simulcast wagering at the track and its four off-track wagering New Castle, West Mifflin, Harmar and Moon. Among other postponements yesterday were the women's volleyball match between Penn State'and Youngstown State, the West'Vir-: ginia-Marshall volleyball match in Morgantown, all sporting events-involving West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference all athletic events at Washington" and Jefferson and all Westminster varsity sporting events. The USGA Senior Women's Amateur Golf Championship continued as scheduled yesterday at Allegheny Country Club in Sewickley. The quarterfinals and semifinals' are scheduled today. The final held tomorrow.

Post-Gazette sports writers Shelly Anderson, Phil Axelrod, Ea Bouchette, Ray Fittipaldo, Paul, Meyer, Dave Smith, Mike White and Paul Zeise contributed to this article. tations in place at the time. Pitt had been considered for the Sugar and Gator bowls that year, but invitations had been locked up by other schools by the time the Penn State game was played. The Penguins reported to South-pointe yesterday for physicals, equipment and a light skate in preparation for the start of training camp today. But their Downtown offices closed early.

"You don't want to raise unnecessary panic, but there wasn't going to be any business conducted anyway," Penguins spokesman Tom McMillan said. "We figured it would be better for everybody, not so much for safety's sake, but for peace of mind, to go home. If anybody had any concerns, it calmed them down." Thirty minutes after the offices closed at 11 a.m., someone called to buy tickets. "It puts it in perspective. What was important 30 minutes ago isn't important now," McMillan said.

The USL postponed all first-round A-League playoff games, including the one between the River-hounds and the Charleston Battery at Bethel Park Stadium tonight. The first game is set for next Thursday, with an official announcement expected today. "Our thoughts right now are not on playing a soccer game," River-hounds owner Paul Heasley said. "In the grand scheme of things, given the magnitude of this tragedy, our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families." Riverhounds coach and general 1 Paterno Jim Trdinich. Pirates, Steelers and Penguins offices were closed.

The Steelers' practice and the first day of Penguins workouts are scheduled as usual today. The University of Pittsburgh canceled its football practice yesterday. Penn State's game against Virginia tomorrow has been postponed, and a decision on rescheduling is expected today, as is a decision on many other college games slated for Saturday. The status of the West Virginia-Maryland game at College Park, will be determined later in the week. In an historic context, the college football situation is reminiscent of 1963 when President John F.

Kennedy was assassinated. The Nov. 23 game between Pitt and Penn State was postponed and played two weeks later. Pitt finished 9-1 but probably lost out on a bowl bid because of the timetable of invi- Everything you need to discover how to moke your home moke money for you. Personal Business Every Monday lUtsburgl) 4UcHUJIKIir Attack hits too close to home for Roonejl AV niuuiimimim im 11, i.

iiim i ii 1 1 1 mm "in uii iwuiiiii mm imn Ritchie Cowher the future schedule, as well as what fans can do to exchange tickets for the game last night. The Mets moved from their hotel across from the Federal Building Downtown to a hotel in Monroeville. The team called it a precaution. "I really don't care if we play the rest of the year or not," said Mets pitcher Rick White, a former Pirate. "Everybody's worried about what's going to happen, next Basically, it could be the start of World War III." Added catcher Mike Piazza: "Everybody's life will be forever changed by this." There will be no word on Vogelsong's tests until today.

General Manager Dave Littlefield Dew from Boston to Pittsburgh yesterday morning just hours before two planes were hijacked from Boston and used in the attacks. "You look out here at this beautiful blue sky and lovely ballpark, and it hits you there's a lot of ugliness in the world," said Pirates spokesman in im im mn Mia J. Vi 4, A I I I 1 I I A I t. ..,.,3 I ililM 4 1 Ful i access to 1 111 1 tmiflS Ba is a plane crash or something 'to happen in the stadium. You don't want to risk that at all.

,3 "We would still go out there and do our job. But this is a tragedy, everyone's shocked." A Doug Whaley, the team's pro scouting coordinator, was busy on his cell phone telling his scouts around the country to stay put. Kevin Colbert, the director of football operations, was on a scouting mission to Colorado University and remained there yesterday. Whaley has canceled his plans to travel on scouting missions the rest; of the week. Some Steelers players also were on the road because they were off, yesterday.

Safety Payton Williams, a practice squad player, was in Los Angeles visiting nis sick mother. "We just hope everybody's safe," Whaley said of those members of the Steelers' organization who were; traveling. Coach Bill Cowher's weekly, televised noon news conference was canceled. Cowher and his coaching" staff were at work, their tion obviously not fully on football. "It's tough," said Russ Grimm; who coaches the offensive line: "You're in here trying to work on getting a first down and you have alj these other things going on." Grimm's children live in the Washington area with their motheij and he verified that they all were safe.

Dave Lockett, the club's public relationsmedia manager, is a New Jersey native from the metropolitan New York area, and he was trying to get news on the fate of family and friends. "I know a lot of people there, a lot of people who work in the finan? cial district," said Lockett, who worked for the NFL in New York before he joined the Steelers. "It's, scary. It's a life-changing expert ence. My mother and sister are in New York and my brother is in Washington, D.C.

They're OK Bui I have a lot of friends who I'm concerned about That's what I'll do the rest of the day, try to get in1 touch with them." As with Lockett, playing football this weekend was of little concern to many in the organization. i Cornerback Chad Scott had arrived at their facility early for treat? ment on a sprained knee that kept him out of the opener in Jacksonville. He left by late morning to pick up his son from school. "It's crazy. It's like you don't know what's going to happen next," Scott said as he left the building.

"Bombs and planes and explosions all over the place! It's definitely unnerving. I'm going to get my son from school just sit home and watch it like everyone else." Halfback Amos Zereoue, who grew up in Hempstead, N.Y., on Long Island, spent most of his time on his cell phone trying to reach family and friends. A teammate said Zereoue's father had missed a train in the morning and did not go to Manhattan as planned. "It's taken everyone by shock, Ward said. "For someone to attack America like that And a place like Somerset.

That's too close to home. You can't play around with this." STEELERS FROM PAGE B-1 deemed unfit for military service. The full schedule of games were played three days after President John F. Kennedy was assassinated Nov. 22, 1963.

Pete Rozelle, then commissioner, later admitted he had made a mistake by not postponing games after the president's death, as had most colleges. The NFL was roundly criticized for playing on the weekend between Kennedy's death and his funeral. "They're concerned where we go from here," Rooney said. Yesterday was a day off for Steelers players, but a handful turned out at their South Side offices for treatment of injuries. Rooney allowed other employees to go home if they wished, and many began streaming out of the building at 11:30 a.m.

By 11:50 a.m., the Steelers' offices were locked so no one could enter without someone letting them in. The coaches remained at work to put a game plan together for the grand opening of Heinz Field Sunday night against Cleveland, a game that is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. and to be televised nationally on ESPN. The Steelers plan to resume meetings and practice today as scheduled. The NFL has a backup plan for postponing one weekend's slate of games, although it becomes more difficult for them this year because there is no weekend off between the championship games and the Super Bowl this season.

The league could postpone games scheduled for this weekend, then pick up the normal schedule the following week. It could then eliminate the four wildcard games the weekend of Jan. 5-6 and play all the games scheduled for this week at that time. That, however, would require them to eliminate four wild-card teams from the postseason, turning a 12-team playoff into eight. If that occurs, the Steelers' grand opening of Heinz Field would not be until Oct 7 against Cincinnati, their next scheduled home game.

The Steelers do not play Sept. 23 and play at Buffalo Sept. 30. That wasn't the prime concern yesterday as the atmosphere at Steelers headquarters was surreal. People were stunned and many tried to get through to family in New York and Washington.

They were pinned to television sets throughout the day. "It's your worst nightmare," said halfback Jerome Bettis, 29. "It's something in the back of your head that you knew could happen, but the possibilities were not real. It's like something that happens in the movies, something you don't really think can happen in America" Bettis wasn't sure NFL games should be played this weekend. "The country is in mourning, and we are the country's entertainment," he said.

"I don't know if the country wants to be entertained right now." Others weren't worried about the symbolism of playing NFL games as much as the safety aspect "You really don't want to put fans and players in jeopardy," receiver Hines Ward said. "To have one spirting event like that, all it takes In. i minfiiti W4i hois htf? iiy your money anytime, anywhere (ATM, branch, Online Banking) Market rates without market risk Safety of FDIC insurance Open your new account today to receive these great rates. nationalcity.com Stop by your nearest National City office, visit our website, or call us at 1-800-347-5626. 'Offer available for new orcounh opened with funds not currently on deposit witfi Nolionol City Bonk of Pennsylvania offkes.

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